Preparing for Some Down Time

A year and half ago I had major surgery. As a result of that surgery I developed an incisional hernia which I detected about nine months following the operation. When I discovered it I was suffering a great deal of pain and discomfort. I really do not know if my discomfort was a result of the hernia but regardless the hernia must be repaired. As for pain over the last eight months, I have been very blessed. I have suffered very little. I've missed out on a few activities such as climbing Table Mountain and some of my activities have been limited due to a slight discomfort, but healthwise, even with the hernia, I feel great!

So now I am looking at a second surgery. Just for the record, I hate surgery! However, having done it once, I have a pretty good idea of what to expect. And I'm feeling pretty good about it. This past week we have taken the opportunity as a family to prepare meals for the month following my surgery. It is so good to see the kids working together. My family is so awesome. In 3 to 4 hours we made 19 meals, big enough to feed our family and put into the freezer! As you can see our freezer is pretty full!

That was Saturday afternoon.  For family home evening Monday night we made bread and muffins. In about two hours plus a little cooking time we had made 19 loaves of bread and about 10 dozen muffins! It was fun. Both Chad and I really enjoyed it. We love working together so much and it makes it extra rewarding to have our children join us.

I am so thankful for the opportunities we have to work together as a family! Sometimes family members complain because they would rather be dng their own thing, but almost ALWAYS, by the time we have finished our project, EVERYONE is feeling the joy of accomplishment and it is even more fun! In the case of freezer meals, everyone enjoys having a lightened work load for the next month because the meal preparation times are greatly reduced and I feel great knowing that even if I don't feel wonderful, things will continue to run smoothly. Family is such a blessing!

Learning and Studying

I love to read. This past year has been a learning year for me. I have learned so much about myself, and so much of that was inspired by the books that I read. Around March I decided that I wanted to remember what books I have been reading. So I made a list.

1. Broken Things To Mend, Jeffrey R Holland.   March 

2. Look Up My Soul, Gerald N Lund.    March

3. Spiritual Roots and Human Relations, Stephen R Covey.    

4. The Worth of Souls, Steven A Cramer.    January

5. Daughters in my Kingdom.    April

6. The Journey, Brandon Bay.     June

7. Feelings Buried Alive Never Die, Karol Truman.    June

8. Emotional Release Therapy, Walter Weston.  August

9. The Healing Code, Alexander Loyd and Ben Johnson.   December

10. Emotion Code.  Bradley Nelson.      Started December

11. Awakening to our Awful Situation.  Jack Monett.    

12. The Healing Codes: Underlying Principles.    Jerry Graham.    December

13. A Heart Like His.   Virginia H Pearce.       December

I have been spiritually edified. I have learned scientific facts. I have learned about the prophecies of the last days. I have learned how to open my heart to others and find a deeper and more abiding happiness on a daily basis. Of course not all of these things have come from reading the above books, however, many of these books have inspired my desire to know more on specific topics. My life is better for having learned so much this year. There are many things that I am now doing differently that enrich and fill my life and my days to overflowing.

Of course this list is not all inclusive for it does not include any fiction books, and I do enjoy fiction. However the book I have most consistently read throughout this year is not fiction. It has been written by inspired men. I have now read the Book of Mormon every day for two years consistently. It fills my heart to overflowing, for it helps me to recognize the many great and wonderful blessings which I have received at the hands of God himself. As I study Scripture the other nonfiction books tend to make more sense to me. I am able to learn better from them. My capacity for learning is enlarged. My spirit is calm and I recognize truth so much more clearly.

In the Doctrine and Covenants section 88 we are counselled to learn from the best books. I am so thankful for the opportunity I have had to learn from good books over the past year. I look forward to another year of learning. 2014 is going to be a year of learning. I am so excited about developing new skills and understanding the gospel of Jesus Christ more fully through my scripture study. 

What a blessed time we live in. With so much information available one can learn how to do almost anything. What a joy it is to learn and develop my God-given talents and abilities.

Cluster Birthdays

Birthdays are a wonderful excuse for a family to gather and celebrate the life a loved one and the enduring relationships and feelings of the heart. This month marks three important birthdays for us. 

BIRTHDAY #1

First of all Myles turned 15. He has grown up so much! For his birthday dinner we made home made pizza and followed it up with the cake of his choice which this year was confetti cake with chocolate icing and skor bits on top. Myles even helped to light his own candles. He is a very responsible person and there are a number of people in the community who rely on his help when it comes to shoveling snow or helping in other ways. Myles is always willing to lend a helping hand. He takes after his dad in this respect. What a blessing it is to have such a kind-hearted and caring son.

BIRTHDAY #2

Naomi recently celebrated a major milestone birthday. I now have three adult children. We had a lot of fun together as a family celebrating her birthday. I prepared before hand to decorate and surprise her with the extra effort. I wanted her 18th birthday to be a day that she will remember. A day that she can look back on and know how much her parents love her.

Here she is, ready to start celebrating!!!

   

Decorating theme: Time. We used stars (plates and tablecloth)
little metal clock gears and clock hands to create the theme.

Naomi EVEN got a cool party hat! Charity and Brenna
picked it out for her. She got a gold knights helmet! Pretty cool!!!

Birthday meal

First of all we made funeral potatoes - her choice of dishes - we also cooked a roast and vegetables to go along with it. Since Beth was feeling the agony of new braces, we even had a jello salad loaded with whipped cream and cottage cheese to compliment the meal. The most fun though was the cake. You see, Naomi had a hard time choosing between two different kinds of birthday desserts. For her, it was a toss up between a red velvet cake or a chocolate trifle. In the end she decided the trifle sounded yummiest. However, unbeknownst to her, I made both desserts. Putting the trifle in the fridge out of sight I iced the red velvet cake ready for blowing the candles out! When Naomi got home from school she saw that one and I think was a little disappointed that I hadn't done the trifle, but to her credit, she took it well.  We served the meal buffet style and brought out the cake! After singing Happy Birthday, Naomi blew out the candles. She was so excited that this year, with so many candles, she actually managed to blow them ALL out with one blow!!! At that point I took the cake back to the kitchen and pulled out the trifle. I was careful not to let Naomi see the switch. Then I dished her bowl and brought it to her. It was so fun! She looked at it and kind of did a double take for she had been fully expecting red velvet cake. "How did you do that?!!!" I assured her I was magical and proceeded to dish up the rest of the family. She puzzled over it for a few minutes before she realized that I had to have had this one tucked away somewhere.

Red Velvet birthday cake with Skor bits

Alreight ... I'm ready to blow these candles out!

Inhale.....

... and BLOW!!!

WAHOO!!! I got them ALL out! I am GOOD!

The cake is then served as trifle....

Hmmm... how did you do that!

Next we opened presents. Naomi received a quote book, with uplifting quotes, a pair of semi-precious earrings, a set of eating utensils, and the books she wanted and hoped for and asked for inside a fancy box. She had actually asked for the cutlery as well, but the books of course trumped all other gifts. Following gift opening we all went downstairs and watched Epic. A DVD we had picked up while birthday party shopping. It was a pretty good day!

Here is Beth, covering her new braces ☺

This month my dad also turned 80. My brother did a fabulous job of organizing this party. The cake that he had done was phenomenal. I wanted to give my dad something special and personalized for this momentous occasion. So this morning I sewed up up a rice pack. I created a hand made tag which read "Each grain of rice within this pack represents the love of the Rice family members for you. To feel the warmth of this love, simply heat in the microwave for two minutes and then hold it close to you. Our love will warm you every time. PS. Apply our love to your aches and pains for muscle and joint relief."

These are wonderful heat packs. I hope dad can find a good use for it.

Whether your turning 80 or 18, every birthday is a wonderful celebration of life. There are so many things that I learn about and enjoy and I can't help but look forward to what this next year will bring by way of learning new talents, acquiring new skills, and seeking to do what I know is right. The Lord is my JOY. He is SO very good to me!

New Again

About three years ago we changed our back deck building half of it into an enclosed area. Last year we managed to get the trellis on the sides of the remaining portion and this year we finally decided on a deck covering for the surface. It took some preparation... first of all we leveled it with a floor leveler. With that done, we were ready to put the sealer on. The first coat was green and got rolled on.

The second coat was blue and got spread on thick with a trowel. We even had enough to do the stairs. It is wonderful to have the deck all finished and ready to enjoy.

I LOVE newness! Not that everything around me has to be new because it doesn't, however, when something old is refinished and made new and beautiful it is joyful. It's ability to delight has been enlarged. I am always reminded when we refinish things, that  even when we feel old and worn down, it IS possible to be renewed. This renewal, the renewal of the soul, comes from the power of the Atonement of our Savior in our lives. Each time I use the Atonement in my life, my soul is enlarged and my capacity for gratitude and joy are increased. Just like the functionality of my deck has been increased, I become a better person. I LOVE the lessons my yard reemphasizes to me each time I take the time to look and ponder.